Best practices for troubleshooting
Taking advantage of certain configuration options, and ensuring vital system access information has been recorded, makes the process of troubleshooting easier.
- Record the access information
It is important that anyone who has responsibility for managing the system know how to connect to and log on to the system. Give attention to those times when the normal system administrators are not available because of vacation or illness. - Follow proper power management procedures
Access to your volume data can be lost if you incorrectly power off all or part of a system. - Set up Call Home notifications to yourself and IBM
Configure your system to send notifications when a new event is reported. - Set up inventory reporting
Inventory reporting is an extension to the Call Home email. - Back up your data
- Manage your spare and failed drives
Your RAID arrays that are created from drives consist of drives that are active members and drives that are spares. - Resolve alerts in a timely manner
Your system reports an alert when there is an issue or a potential issue that requires user attention. - Keep your machine code up to date
Check for new code releases and update your code on a regular basis. - Keep your Storwize V3500 records up to date
Keep good records of the system location, names, and management addresses. - Subscribe to support notifications
Subscribe to support notifications so that you are aware of best practices and issues that might affect your system. - Know your IBM warranty and maintenance agreement details
If you have a warranty or maintenance agreement with IBM®, know the details that must be supplied when you call for support. - How to get information, help, and technical assistance
If you need help, service, technical assistance, or just want more information about IBM products, you will find a wide variety of sources available from IBM to assist you.
Parent topic: Troubleshooting